Publication year

The 2013 elections kept the ruling BN coalition in charge of Malaysia, but losing the popular vote gave the coalition a wakeup call. The outlook for economic growth is stable, although the high household debt poses a medium term risk

In March 2014, Michelle Bachelet will become Chile’s next president. She has an ambitious reform agenda and aims to reform the tax and education system. Despite a slowdown in late 2013, the growth outlook remains relatively good.

Economic growth was weak at 1.3% in 2013, as violence in Syria spilled over into Lebanon. While a political impasse keeps reforms on hold, the Central Bank’s stimulus package might help improve performance in 2014.

Economic growth is expected to remain subdued at around 3.5-4% in 2014. The budget balance is expected to improve slightly in 2014, but public finances remain too dependent on foreign aid. Meanwhile, Jordan’s position on the conflict in Syria remains uncertain.

This year, Brazil will host the World Cup. The host country is widely seen as one of the favourites to win the World Cup. For us this is an occasion to publish a series of studies on the economic strengths of Brazil.